Cisplatin therapy for testicular cancer is among the most successful treatment for testicular cancer. According to NCBI, Cisplatin is linked with hearing impairment at certain higher frequencies. However, age plays an important role in hearing loss despite the Cisplatin therapy. Many health professionals suggest that cisplatin is among the most ototoxic drug that has toxic effects on the inner ear. This drug is being used for over 40years and also can cause permanent hearing loss and tinnitus.

A Norwegian study suggests that among survivors of testicular cancer with specific inherited bad genetic makeup had a 36 percent possibility of severe hearing loss. And individuals with good genetic makeup had 14 percent risk of severe hearing impairments.

As per the research at Indiana University, many of the patients with testicular cancer show symptoms of loss of hearing after cisplatin therapy for testicular cancer. Moreover, with hearing impairment, 40 percent of the people also suffer from tinnitus (continuous ringing in the ear). But before learning cisplatin therapy effects on hearing of a person, know about testicular cancer first because “Half knowledge is more dangerous than ignorance”.

What is the Testicular Cancer?

Cancer starts when cells of the body begin to grow out of control. Gradually cells present in many parts of the human body becomes cancerous and then also start spreading to other areas of the body. Cancer present in the testicles is known as testicular cancer. Most of the cancer in the men testicle grow in the special cells known as Germ cells and these cells are used to make sperm. The two types of germ cell tumors (GCTs) in men are:

1. Seminomas

It is a type of germ cell tumor of the testicle. It is the cancerous neoplasm and also one of the most curable cancer. These two main subtypes of these seminomas tumor are classical seminomas and Spermatocytic seminomas. Doctors can also show you how they look under the microscope.

Classical seminoma: Most of the seminomas tumor are classical seminomas. Tumar occurs in men between 25 and 45 age.

Spermatocytic seminoma: It is another type seminoma cell. The average age of men diagnosed with Spermatocytic seminoma is about 65.

2. Non-seminomas

In the early 30s or late teens of men, these types of tumors generally occur. The four kinds of non-seminoma tumors are:

Yolk sac carcinoma

Embryonal carcinoma

Teratoma

Choriocarcinoma

Many germ cell tumors are developed by mixing of different types (sometimes with a seminoma component as well). But this doesn’t change the general approach to the treatment of most non-seminoma cancers.

Testicular Cancer Treatment

In the given years, a huge amount of research has been made in the testicular treatment. Therefore, many methods have been refined, and doctors study the best ways to use chemotherapy and radiation for the treatment of testicular cancer. After the cancer is identified, then cancer care team will discuss treatment process with you. However, depending on the cancer type and its stage and other points, treatment options for testicular cancer can include:

Surgery

Radiation therapy

Chemotherapy (Cisplatin therapy)

High-dose chemotherapy and stem cell transplant

Cisplatin Therapy for Testicular Cancer Treatment

Doctors use Cisplatin in the treatment of various types of cancer. It is a chemotherapy drug that contains platinum. Chemotherapy (chemo) is the use of drugs to treat cancer. Patients take drugs in the shape of the pill or sometimes injected by needle into a blood vessel or muscle. For the treatment of testicular cancer, the medications are usually given directly into a vein of the patient. Chemotherapy is a systemic therapy. Therefore, the drug travels throughout the body to reach and destroy the cancer cells.

There two type of Chemotherapy drugs that are toxic

Cisplatin

Carboplatin

Effects of Chemotherapy for Testicular Cancer Treatment

Many cancer patient face hearing loss problems after cisplatin therapy based chemotherapy for testicular cancer treatment. Scientist finds out the ongoing effects of cisplatin chemotherapy on the hearing condition of the testicular cancer patient through completely testing of their power to hear sounds at unusual frequencies.

Doctors prescribe cisplatin another similar platinum-based agent for around 10 to 20 percent of the patients suffering from cancer putting thousands of Americans at risk for hearing loss (ototoxicity). In fact, 40 to 80 percent of adults and at least half of children experienced loss of hearing after cisplatin treatment, according to a recent article published in Nature Communications.

Side Effects of Cisplatin Therapy For Testicular Cancer

Doctor use Cisplatin drug for cancer treatment of the testicles, ovaries, or bladder. Cisplatin is available in generic form. Some of the side effects of cisplatin therapy for testicular cancer are –

fever or chills,

Nausea and vomiting (eject matter from the stomach through the mouth),

Difficulty and pain in urination and also accompanied by chills or fever,

Dry mouth,

fast heartbeat (during or shortly after a dose),

Decreased sweating,

blood in urine or stools,

Dry skin,

pain or redness at place of injection.

Protecting hearing during chemotherapy

It is very important to take the hearing test before starting the chemotherapy treatment. This will establish a known baseline for your hearing that can be used to determine whether or not your hearing becomes worse during and after treatment.

After that initial hearing test, you should have semi-regular hearing tests throughout your treatment. This will allow you to monitor your hearing during treatment. The key thing to remember with ototoxicity is that unlike many types of hearing loss, hearing loss from ototoxicity can come on suddenly and can range from a mild hearing loss to permanent deafness. Depending on the hearing test your Audiologist will recommend you hearing aid or cochlear implant depending on the kind and the degree of your hearing loss.

Therefore, the oncologist can also prescribe carboplatin for testicular cancer treatment instead of cisplatin therapy. However, Carboplatin causes less toxic effects even though it does not have the same effect as cisplatin therapy.